2001 Hyundai Elantra suspension problems

“ALL 4 BRAKES STARTED TO RANDOMLY LOCK UP. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO RUN IT ALMOST A 1/2 MILE FOR A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER AT. UPON STOPPING, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING ALL AROUND THE CAR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ACTUALLY CAUGHT FLAME. I'M GUESSING BRAKE BOOSTER IS THE CAUSE. ALSO FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. THE CARS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS AROUND 185,000 MILES ON IT. HAS VALVE COVER LEAK INTO SPARK PLUG PORT ON CYLINDER 3 AND HAS A VERY WEAK CLUTCH THAT SOMETIMES SLIPS.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 18 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION THEY NOTICED THE CONTROL ARM HAD DETACHED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. FREEHOLD HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 4065 ROUTE 9 NORTH, FREEHOLD, NJ, WHERE THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V125000 (SUSPENSION) DUE TO HAVING TO WAIT FOR APPROVAL FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND JERKED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING A LOUD HUMMING NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT OR MAKING RIGHT TURNS. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE NOISE WENT AWAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V125000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”

“MY 2001 ELANTRA HAD A RECALL ON FRONT CONTROL ARMS.THIS RECALL WAS LIMITED TO SNOWBELT STATES.THE RECALL SAYS CONTROL ARMS MAY CORRODE DUE TO WATER AND SALT BEING TRAPPED INSIDE CONTROL ARM AND MAY BREAK.THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE IF NEEDED OR DRILL DRAINAGE HOLE TO ALLOW WATER TO ESCAPE AND TREAT TO PREVENT FURTHER CORROSION.MY CAR HAD THE DRILL AND TREAT SOLUTION BUT THE CONTROL ARM BROKE ANYWAY.LUCKILY THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THE BREAK OCCURRED,IF THE CAR WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT.HYUNDAI ADMITS TO THE DEFECT BUT IS SAYING THAT SINCE THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED IT IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE.THE CONTROL ARMS SHOULD HAVE REPLACED FROM THE BEGINNING BUT INSTEAD THEY TOOK THE CHEAP WAY OUT.I WILL REPAIR THE CAR AND TRY TO RECOVER THE MONEY FROM HYUNDAI AS A REPEAT RECALL.HYUNDAI SHOULD REPLACE ALL THE CONTROL ARMS ON CARS THAT ARE AFFECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.”